Oxford United suffered an unbelievably cruel Carling Cup exit at West Ham tonight.

They matched their Premier League opponents for the whole of their second-round clash, only to see Hammers skipper Scott Parker snatch a winner eight seconds from the end of stoppage time.

But it was a courageous and at times magnificent performance from the League Two side, who just a few months ago were playing at places like Gateshead and Hayes rather than in 35,000 arenas against opponents packed full of international players.

It seemed the contest was destined for extra time as it moved deep into stoppage time.

Then Simon Clist culdn't cut out a crossfield pass top Frederic Piquionne, and from his low cross, Parker turned the ball home.

The most encouraging sight was that Oxford took West Ham on at football - and matched them.

There was no lumping the ball forard, even to relieve pressure. They even played free-kicks short.

It was an opportunity for Chris Wilder's League Two newcomers to show they coulod play the game the right way, and they were not found wanting.

Wilder was bold in his team selection, bringing in Alfie Potter and Mitchell Cole on either flank for their first starts of the season, and keeping Matt Green and Jack Midson in reserve to come on.

Otherwise it was as expected, with Ben Purkiss taking over from the injured Damian Batt at right back.

West Ham made six changes to the team beaten by Bolton in the Premier League on Saturday, with Tal Ben Haim coming in for his debut at centre back, with Matthew Upson injured.

Scott Parker was the Hammers captain for the night, and fellow England internationals Robert Green and Carlton Cole were among the home team's subs.

The U's, wearing white shirts and blue shorts for a change, must have worried it would be a backs-to-the-wall 90 minutes when, in the first minute, Frederic Piquionne fired in an early shot that Ryan Clarke pushed around his near post, and from the resulting corner, James Tomkins headed over.

But the League Two newcomers gradually got into the match and gained in confidence with every passing minute.

They were not afraid to commit players to attacks either.

Purkiss overlapped to send in a fine right-wing cross that was just too high for Cole to do much with at the far post.

And Asa Hall beat three opponents on a strong run through the centre.

The top-flight club had moments where they showed their class, but at times they looked like a group of individuals thrown together, lacking Oxford's teamwork and understanding.

And the home crowd were soon on their back when passes went astray.

An excellent break down the left by Cole engineered Oxford's first ream opening in the 17th minute. Constable met his low cross with a left-footed shot on the turn, but couldn't get much on it, and keeper Marek Stech saved easily down to his left.

Hall then found space to hit a 20-yard drive that gave Stech more to worry about.

Left winger Junior Stanislas looked Hammers' most threatening player and he was twice not far away with shots from the edge of the box.

United's players chased down everything but spaces did appear when Hammers stretched the play with the quality of their passing, and on 34 minutes Avram Grant's team really should have scored.

Pable Barrera cut inside Anthont Tonkin and his cross was perfect, but Piquionne planted his downward header just wide.

Yet three minutes before half-time, Hall went just as close to breaking the deadlock at the other end, finishing off a precise ten-pass move with a 20-yard drive that Stech pushed over his bar.

And Constable volleyed the far post corner narrowly over.

Simon CXlist came on for Cole for the second half, and Clist was completely on his own when the game restarted, because Julien Faubert was a minute late emerging from the tunnel!

Both teams saw 20-yard drives flash past the upright early in the second half, Heslop for Oxford and Piquionne for West Ham.

A mistake from Harry Worley let in Piquionne, but Clarke was quickly down to save at the Frenchman's feet.

The Oxford United fans had been in fantastic voice, singing "there's only one Joey Beauchamp", which seemed to fly over the head of most of the quiet home supporters, and "Going Down", which didn't.

Their biggest cheer came when Carlton Cole came off the bench on 62 minutes but United continued to defend well even against the added threat he posed.

At times, West Ham really weren't very good. One time pressed in defence, they could only slice a clearance into touch, while in one attack Cole ended a smart turn with a feeble shot.

But when Piquionne did get around the back of Oxford's defence and cut the ball back to Parker, he met it with a superb shot that Clarke brilliantly saved, one-handed, low to his left.

Oxford were tremendous on the night. A credit to their division, and to their city.